Dame Sue Carr Makes History as First Female Lord Chief Justice

Carr has made history as the first female Lord Chief Justice, taking over the role from Ian Burnett who retired in October 2022. Her journey in the legal field began in 1987 when she qualified as a lawyer after studying law at Trinity College, Cambridge. She later became a judge in 2009 and was promoted to High Court judge in 2013.

Carr also has experience serving as the vice-chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission. Although the title of Lord Chief Justice has a long-standing history dating back to 1268, Justice Minister Alex Chalk hinted that the title could potentially be changed to align with Carr's preferences. However, any official changes will not be rushed and will be considered at a later date.

As the new Lord Chief Justice, Carr has a range of responsibilities including representing the judiciary's views to parliament and the government, overseeing the well-being, training, and guidance of judges, discussing resource allocation to the judiciary, and managing the deployment of judges in courts. During her expected minimum four-year term, Carr will need to address challenges such as significant case backlogs and the need for modernization in courts and tribunals. Carr's appointment was made by the king upon the advice of Justice Minister Chalk and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, following the recommendation of an independent selection panel.

Her appointment marks a significant moment in legal history, with Carr poised to lead the judiciary through a period of change and challenges.